Kindle

I am lucky because my surgeon is ok with me taking NSAIDS occasionally. He just advised I take a PPI or stomach protectant like sucralfate if I take them long term. He Actually send patients home with sublingual NSAIDS for 5 days postop. The reduction of surgical inflammation outweighs the small risk of short term NSAID use. You could ask your doctor if tramadol might help. It does wonders for my neck and back pain, but not sure if it works for menstural cramps. You may also do a google search for holistic alternatives to take the edge off the cramps. Traumeel is a natural pain reliever that I've also used, so there might be something similar for menstural pain.

@@ZoeyBear all I can suggest is try it for yourself. Everyone is different, so you won't know how it feels until you try. I've tried carbonation several times along the way and I can't do it. On the other hand, I've got a friend who had bypass 8 years ago and she never stopped drinking coke (regular, no less, not diet coke). As for soda not being good for you, choosing to drink it anyways is your prerogative. Even though it doesn't have the calories, your body reacts the same way to artificial sweeteners as real sugar when it comes to insulin spikes and triggering carb cravings. Some people have issues with that, along with the many other chemicals in soda, but you won't know until you try for yourself.

GERD is probably the biggest long term side effect of VSG. Not everyone gets it, but many do even though they didn't have it before surgery. some patients even have to convert to bypass afterwards if the reflux gets too bad. There are some surgeons that don't do VSG if you have bad reflux preop because it can get worse. I'd definitely discuss your concerns with your surgeon, maybe even get a second opinion. Personally, I had never even taken a single antacid before surgery. Postop I was on Prilosec for 2 - 3 months. After that my heartburn/reflux hasn't been too bad, but I do have to take Zantac or Prilosec or rolaids at least a few tines/month.

Not sure I understand your question. (If it was directed at me)

Mine looked/felt healed by around 2 weeks. How much does your toddler weigh? I wasn't supposed to lift over 20 pounds for 3 weeks. After that I was lifting 40-60 pounds with no problems. A lot of people have stricter lifting restrictions for even longer. I read on here no more than 8 pounds for 6 weeks for one patient!

My hunger is an empty, hollow pit in my tummy. Sometimes with a little gastritis. I usually eat every 2-3 hours, but if I go longer than that I get queasy, light headed and cranky.

Ditto to everything @@Inner Surfer Girl said. Just relax, let your body heal and Concentrate on fluids, Protein and Vitamins. You don't have to worry about any other numbers at this point. I was never given a calorie "goal" and never bothered to count them. The scale is also not your friend at this point...your body is too messed up from surgery trauma/IV fluids/anesthesia, etc. for the numbers to mean anything anyways. I didn't weigh until 11 days out (just because it was New Years Day and I wanted a milestone number). and I only stepped on the scale like 6 times in the first 3 months. Relax, enjoy the journey and don't stress the details.

I was up walking within 4 hours of waking up and out shopping less than 24 hours Walked a couple miles that first two days. Flew on a plane, drove 5 hours, plowed my driveway, fed horses, more shopping, errands, laundry, etc all within the first 5 days. Back to work within a week.

My hunger and restriction changed dramatically between 6 and 10 months. Even more hunger and a little less restriction between 10 and 16 months. After awhile it really does just become all a mental game. The best you can do is stick to all the new habits you learned along the way and keep eating healthy. Unfortunately Resisting temptation to backslide is going to be a lifetime challenge. Just keep fighting the good fight.

Fitbit One here. I really wanted a Charge HR, but With my job, it's not practical to wear something on my wrist. clipping the One on my pocket or waistband works great. Seems pretty accurate and stays on very well. Just have to remember to clip it on each morning but that's pretty routine now. Battery life is great I maybe charge it every 10-14 days. The only thing I don't like is that you can't turn it on/off. I sometimes forget to take it off when I go riding, so it ends up recording 20,000+ steps I didn't take. Short of being able to turn it on/off, it would be nice to be able to manually adjust the step count when things like that happen. I would think that would be any easy feature to add to the app. ****edit**** so I just discovered that if you enter "driving" as an activity, it will delete all steps taken during that time period. So the one thing I didn't like about my Fitbit is now fixed. Yay!!

I'm a vet tech and have an active job...on my feet, bending, squatting, kneeling, lifting all day. I went back to work after 7 days and was fine. I only had a 20 pounds lifting restriction for 3 weeks, and then was back to the usual 40-60 pounds. I was on full liquids for 3 weeks as well, so made sure to have plenty of drinks and protein shakes at work.

60g but I typically get closer to 80.

I've read mostly positive posts about Dr. Ortiz and OCC on this and other forums. A few people don't seem to like his "celebrity" status and I did find some older complaints about their bands. Anyone out there with bad experiences or complications with their sleeves from him?

Alcohol doesn't affect me any differently. I started with 1/2 glass wine about 4 months out. Since then I've had more wine, vodka cocktails, whiskey, and twisted tea. I've consumed up to 3-4 pretty strong drinks without feeling drunk (buzzed, but not slobbering drunk). I cannot do carbonation of any kind, so beer and champagne are out. A lot of people report that alcohol hits them quick and hard postop, but not me. I had a very high tolerance before surgery and was looking forward to Being a cheap date but it didn't happen. i used to drink every day, but now maybe 1-2 times/month. The calories just aren't worth it anymore.

I don't see why that would be a problem. If you can meet Protein goals with whole food then go for it! I read somewhere about people mixing powdered skim milk or unflavored whey protein in with their milk to boost the protein level. Personally, it would be difficult for me to meet protein goal without my shakes. For the first 6 months my restriction was too tight to be able to eat enough. Now a protein smoothie is just habit, and I use the smoothie to get in 10g of insoluble Fiber for my constipation issues. i also insist on getting in plenty of veggies, fruit and whole grains, so I still don't have enough room to get in all my protein from food.

The only thing you are doing wrong is weighing too often. STAY. OFF. THE. SCALE.

Happy dance.

Rules I "break"..... I drink alcohol. I eat pancakes, muffins, Cookies, cake, candy, Pasta, bread and rice I do regular sugar stuff...not low cal/sugar free (yuck) I drink with meals I don't count calories, track or measure my food (except Protein and water-see below) I usually drink decaf, but won't hesitate to drink caffeinated if that's all that's available I graze and snack I have no formal exercise program or plan (my regular life is active enough) Rules I follow... The first two rule breaks above are done in moderation (I guess this is MY rule) No carbonation (tried it....ouch) Take my Vitamins every single day Drink at least 64oz water/day Get 60-80g protein/ day Get bloodwork done regularly and adjust vitamins accordingly My personal #1 rule..... Eat a healthy, balanced diet of protein, veggies, fruit and whole grains every day.

I love idaho, they are less judge mental That's cause we're too busy shoveling snow and trying to keep warm 8 months out of the year. And then trying to squeeze in as much summertime fun as possible the other 4!

I eat a pancake every weekend. With REAL butter, REAL maple syrup and a sausage patty or bacon. No regrets and no guilt.

I've been fat since the 2nd grade, I've had a lot of assholes in my life. But good on you for being confident! I know I don't know your whole story, but with a starting BMI of 28, I certainly wouldn't consider you fat! That's barely overweight. I was 40 pounds heavier and 5 inches shorter when I decided to have WLS and I barely considered myself a "big girl". I hope you find the confidence to overcome whatever influences that have given you such a negative body image. Keep weeding out the assholes!

It's been no big deal for me, either. I rarely get a lunch break, so my normal work day consists of constant grazing.....mixed nuts, Quest bar, Protein smoothie, Jerky, string cheese, whatever I can eat in between appointments. My partner actually comments about how I'm always eating. As for going out and buffets, etc. I just eat what I can eat, no biggie. I often split an entree with someone who's also "watching their weight". Or I get whatever I want and end up with a lot of leftovers. Everyone knows I've had surgery so they are used to what I eat and no one really cares. I was at a memorial service yesterday where the served spaghetti and meatballs, vegetarian lasagna, bread, salad and various Desserts. I had 1 meatball (no pasta), some salad, and dissected the layers of 1/2 piece of lasagna to get mostly the veggies and cheese. A little later I split a cookie with someone and took a couple bites of someone else's cinnamon roll. Oh yeah, and drank 2 16 oz bottles of Water but passed on the beer and wine.

I am a vet tech, so also on my feet, squatting, bending, lifting a lot. I went back after 7 days. It was our slow time, so my days were only 8-10 hours long. I had a lifting restriction of 20 pounds for 3 weeks, so I had to lay off the heavy stuff in the beginning. I was back to carrying the usual 40-60 pounds after that.

I had C. diff after taking antibiotics for a tooth infection. 8 weeks of flagyl and then vancomycin. It would clear up on the Meds, but then come back within a few days of stopping. 2 miserable months of pain and diarrhea. Had to get IV fluids 3 times for severe dehydration. Finally ended up getting a fecal transplant. Cost me $2500 because insurance wouldn't cover it, but well worth it ....it was an instant cure. Sending hopes and prayers to you and your husband.